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Cross-country skiing guide

Traversing snow-covered forests on long, skinny planks of wood has been a Scandinavian custom for 5,000 years. In northern Russia the concept first evolved as transport as early as 6,000 BC, according to records from archeologist Grigoriy Burov. It may have first evolved in Central Asia where cave drawings dating back 8,000 years show figures on skis.

In any case, what was first used as a practical mode of transportation across snowy frontiers didn’t become a recreational activity until the 1800s, with the first known organized competition taking place in Norway in 1842. A decade later, a Norwegian immigrant who’d taken a job as a mail carrier in the United States began using Nordic skis to bring mail from northern California into Idaho, unknowingly introducing cross-country skiing to a young country that would in the coming decades embrace it and its downhill-angled cousin, alpine skiing.

Fast forward 170 years to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nordic skiing is about to have a new moment as the ideal activity for winter recreation when avoiding physical contact is a social mandate. There is no crowding onto ski lifts or dining in packed cafeterias, no sharing nor worry of a high-speed collision with another skater on the ice. No winter activity, except snowshoeing, offers such potential for solitude among snow-blanketed pines. Many established trail systems have fire-heated warming huts to provide a place to stop for lunch and mark the midpoint of the ski tour, and best of all, you’ll never pay $200 for a ticket to access them. Nordic skiing is the perfect outdoor activity for this winter. Here’s how to get started and where to go once you’re suited up.

Grab this Nordic skiing gear before heading out

Photo: Monika Mulec Skitek/Shutterstock

Nordic — or cross-country — skiing consists of two forms: classic skiing, in which the skier moves slowly in a manner that resembles power walking, and skate skiing, where the motion is performed at a forward tilt more like speed skating. Start in classic mode and be ready for a workout. You may not be climbing a mountain or flying down a steep slope, but a day of Nordic action is sure to get the heart pumping.

Get yourself a pair of Nordic touring skis, long and skinny and perfect for the grooved tracks that mark most cross-country ski trails. Sizing your Nordic skis follows an oddly complicated formula. It’s your height in inches multiplied by 2.6 with another 15 inches added to that — and then the final answer is noted in centimeters.

Fortunately, a sales rep at any respectable Nordic ski retailer can save you the trouble of doing that math in your head. All you need to know is that your skis are going to be too long to fit in your car but not too tall to store in the garage. A pair of beginner skis and poles such as the Whitewoods Crosstours retail for under $200, while a pair of the top-tier Salomen QSTs can list as high as $550. Nordic ski poles, if not included with your skis, are available at most winter-focused outdoor retail shops and run between $20 and $50.

You’ll also need a pair of dedicated Nordic ski boots. In contrast to downhill ski boots, Nordic boots are far more comfortable. They’re lower cut, relieving you of the tight pressure around the calves and ankles that downhill boots are known for. They’re also cheaper — you can get a brand new pair of Fischer XJ Nordic boots for about the cost of a dinner out for two. On the high end, a pair of Alpina Alaska boots runs about $250.

Once you have skis, boots, and poles, the rest of the gear you’ll need can be found in the gear closet of any winter recreationist: a waterproof parka, a warm hat that covers the ears, ski pants, and waterproof gloves. A thermos full of hot cider or coffee doesn’t hurt, either.

The best spots to try nordic skiing this winter

Photo: Christopher Tipton/Shutterstock

One of the sport’s biggest draws is that it doesn’t require steep mountains or expensive lift tickets — just plenty of snow and enough room to stretch the legs. If you live in a city and want to practice before heading out to an established trail system, try a few laps at a local public golf course or park. You likely won’t be the only one there since, across the snowy states, it’s not uncommon for urban green spaces to be converted into groomed cross-country ski trails for the winter.

When you’re ready to step further afield, browse the directory of Nordic ski areas available from xcski.org. The organization lists location and contact information for Nordic tracks across the US and parts of Canada. If you live in or are visiting a region with downhill skiing, check the websites of nearby mountains as they may offer groomed cross-country paths as well. Many popular downhill ski resorts offer adjacent Nordic tracks, including destination resorts such as Stowe in Vermont and Crested Butte in Colorado.

Nordic-specific ski areas tend to be family-friendly and can usually be accessed either free of charge or with a small contribution to support the area’s upkeep. Many national parks also offer cross-country trails, and Nordic racing is common (and often crazy) across the world. Here are six standouts from across the country:

1. Trapp Family Lodge — Vermont

Vermont’s Trapp Family Lodge is the best place to actually feel like you’re Nordic skiing in the woods of Scandinavia. The country’s first dedicated Nordic center hosts about 60 miles of maintained trails rated from beginner level to experts only, with an on-site bierhall waiting for post-trail revelry and a lodge at which to dry your boots overnight.

2. Methow Trails — Washington

With 130 miles of trail accessible from more than half a dozen start points, Washington’s Methow Trails is the largest cross-country trail system in the United States. The surrounding valley and town of Winthrop are an ideal winter trip from anywhere in the Pacific Northwest as the region’s sole Nordic skiing “destination resort.”

3. Maine Huts & Trails — Maine

Maine Huts & Trails hosts 50 miles of groomed track including multiple trails with a bit of incline. Because of the hut system, it is possible to take a multi-day ski tour from hut to hut, overnighting in remote cabins secluded from modern conveniences.

4. Lapland Lake — New York

Lapland Lake in the Adirondacks is New York State’s destination cross-country center. The center maintains 23 miles of trail along with dedicated snowshoe routes, a tubing hill, and ice skating.

5. Grand Mesa — Colorado

With expansive views and little incline, flat-topped mountains are perfect for nordic skiing. Colorado’s Grand Mesa — the world’s largest flat-topped mountain — hosts 30 miles of groomed track accessible from two different trailheads. The Grand Mesa Nordic Council maintains the trail system and offers lessons and annual races that draw skiers from across Colorado and beyond.

6. Cross Country Ski Headquarters — Michigan

Nowhere in the United States does cross-country skiing exist like it does in northern Michigan. With ample snow and open space, you could pass an entire winter taking day excursions from Traverse City or Petoskey to nearby trail systems and still not have covered everything on offer. Outside the small town of Roscommon, Cross Country Ski Headquarters is the center of it all with 11 miles of groomed trails, an on-site gear shop, and even lessons and guided ski tours led by certified professionals.

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Diamond in Arkansas state park

Imagine taking a casual stroll through a state park and stumbling upon a massive diamond. That’s what happened to Kevin Kinard, a 33-year-old visitor to Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park, over Labor Day weekend.

Kinard’s discovery wasn’t exactly accidental, though. He was visiting the park specifically to look through the diamond search area. He didn’t believe he had found anything worthwhile but went to the Diamond Discovery Center anyway to have the park staff identify his find.

In a park blog post, he said, “I almost didn’t have them check my finds, because I didn’t think I had found anything. My friend had hers checked, though, so I went ahead and had them check mine, too.”

A staff member set aside a marble-sized crystal from Kinard’s collection and, after closer examination, explained that he had found a nine-carat diamond.

“It kind of looked interesting and shiny, so I put it in my bag and kept searching. I just thought it might’ve been glass […] I honestly teared up when they told me. I was in complete shock!”

Photo: Arkansas State Parks

Park Assistant Superintendent Dru Edmonds said in the blog post, “Conditions in the diamond search area were perfect for Mr. Kinard to find his diamond. Park staff plowed the search area on August 20, just a few days before Tropical Storm Laura dropped more than two inches of rain in the park. The sun was out when Mr. Kinard visited, and he walked just the right path to notice the sunlight reflecting off his diamond.”

It’s the second-largest diamond ever discovered at the park since it opened in 1972. The biggest ever was 16.37-carats and found in 1975. About one or two diamonds are discovered in the park each day, though none as large as this one.

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Queen Mary 2 world cruise

If you’re the kind of person who has the flexibility to take 118 days off work, this four-month cruise around the world might just be your perfect vacation.

This cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2 sets out from New York in January 2022, and will visit 16 countries, 27 ports of call, and 33 UNESCO World Heritage sites, before returning to New York about four months later.

Photo: Cunard

The cruise, operated by Cunard, departs New York, crosses the Atlantic Ocean to tour Europe, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula through the Suez Canal, Asia, and Australia before looping around. The ship itself, the world’s only ocean liner, has 13 decks, two pools, daily afternoon tea, several restaurants, a theater, a planetarium, and one of the largest ballrooms at sea. It can accommodate 2,691 guests and is pet friendly — because leaving your pet home for four months could be a bit problematic.

Photo: Cunard

The cruise is extremely costly. The cheapest booking starts at $15,149 per person, though you can also choose to book any of the two- to three-week-long legs of the trip separately if you can’t quite commit to 118 days at sea.

The Queen Mary 2 embarked on a similar voyage last year but was forced to cut the journey short in March due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Booking a trip for 2022 might seem like a safe bet at this point, but with the global situation changing at unpredictable rates, you should probably have a contingency plan in place.

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Pantanal infernos destroy more land

It’s not just the West Coast of the United States that’s suffering from the damaging effects of fire this year. In South America’s Pantanal region, located mostly within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, fire damage is twice as widespread as in California. Bordering Bolivia and Paraguay, the Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland, home to indigenous peoples and several rare and endangered species. While fires in this region are common, this year has been particularly bad.

So far, 22 percent of the floodplain has been destroyed by flames, and scientists are concerned that the blazes are negatively impacting the fragile ecosystem. The fires are exacerbated by the worst drought in the region in 47 years.

Although Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro officially banned setting fires in the Amazon and Pantanal for 120 days, according to Nature, the regulations have not been strictly enforced, the number of environmental inspectors have been reduced, and funding for fire prevention has been blocked. Climate scientists predict that by 2050, average temperatures in the Pantanal could increase by 10.5 percent, leading to a potential collapse of the area’s vegetation and complete transformation of the ecosystem.

In the Encontro das Águas State Park, over 83 percent of the land has been destroyed, displacing jaguars, capybaras, and alligators from their homes. Local teams have stepped in to save what animals they can, but the effects of the blaze will last long after the fires are extinguished.

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Retired circus elephants refuge

Thirty retired circus elephants are getting a much-deserved comfortable new home. The Asian elephants, which had been used in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, will be moving to the White Oak conservation center in Florida next year. The center will allocate 2,500 acres of its property to the elephants, which are coming from a 200-acre property owned by Ringling Bros. The circus had committed to phasing out elephant performances in 2015, and retired the last elephants in 2016.

Although it purchased 35 elephants in total, some won’t be able to move to the refuge due to age or medical conditions, but those that stay behind will still be cared for by the conservation center.

The White Oak facility is four square miles of wetlands, meadows, and woods that will give the elephants a diverse landscape in which to live and thrive. It will have 11 watering holes for the elephants to enjoy and three barns stocked with the necessary veterinary equipment so staff can keep the elephants in good health.

Since the elephants have spent their entire lives in captivity, they can’t return to their natural habitat.

Michelle Gadd, who leads global conservation efforts for White Oak, told First Coast News, “Our elephant whisperer Nick [Newby], who’s in charge of the elephant program for us, has been spending his time getting to know these elephants and their social preferences, limitations and physical ailments for the past two years. It’s to see who tolerates each other, who really likes each other, who stays together and gets along well.”

White Oak’s staff hope to return any newborn elephants born in captivity to the wild.

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Belgium’s ‘Dinner in the Sky’

If you’re not afraid of heights and prefer outdoor dining to fend off COVID-19, the “dinner in the sky” experience in Brussels might be for you. Dinner in the Sky has been set up in around 60 countries since its inception in 2006, and it’s pretty much exactly as advertised. Diners are strapped into seats at a table that’s suspended from a crane, while world-renowned chefs cook and serve from the middle. In Brussels, the experience takes place 164 feet above the ground, and it has just relaunched after previously closing due to COVID-19.

The original version sat 22 people together along the perimeter, but now 32 guests will be accommodated at four-person private tables that are spaced apart.

Photo: Dinner in the Sky Belgium/Facebook

According to co-CEO Stefan Kerkhof, “It means all the public are sitting in a sort of bubble.” You can dine at this unique restaurant for lunch or dinner, with one lunch seating and two dinner seatings. It costs $350 per person for meals, and $175 for weekend cocktails.

Brussels is only the most recent home for Dinner in the Sky. The website states, “Dinner in the Sky has criss-crossed the skies […] In Europe, to be sure, but also in Australia, Japan, India, Dubaï, South-Africa, Brazil, United States, Mexico, Canada…and China.”

The Brussels event will end on October 4, but keep your eyes on the website to see if it’ll be heading to your city soon.

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Paper bags versus plastic bags facts

For months, the COVID-19 pandemic had largely sidelined the topic of single-use bags and containers. New York delayed implementing its plastic bag ban until October, and California has suspended its plastic bag ban. Then New Jersey decided to strike a different tone. Last week, the state legislature voted to pass a ban on both plastic and paper single-use bags in grocery stores, which also includes a ban on single-use plastic bags in stores and restaurants and similar restrictions on polystyrene products in certain cases.

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, told The New York Times that the bill is “the strongest, most comprehensive bill in the nation” when it comes to reducing plastic waste from grocery stores and restaurants.

The thing is, New Jersey also included single-use paper bags in the ban — which after Governor Philip D. Murphy signs the bill will make the state the first to do so. You’re not alone if the report left you wondering, “Why would they also ban paper bags?”

To be sure, paper bags are far less environmentally catastrophic than plastic bags, even if only because they can often be recycled and at worst, break down far more quickly (if the conditions are right). But paper bags are no environmental fairy tale. Let’s look into why environmental activists including the Sierra Club have pushed to New Jersey to place these grocery store staples on the chopping block.

Paper bags take more energy and water to produce than plastic bags

Before their useful life, a lot goes into producing paper bags. According to scientific studies, it takes four times the amount of energy to produce a paper bag than to produce a plastic one, and paper bags generate much more air pollutants during production than plastic bags. Paper also takes more water to produce than plastic and though plastic bags require the extraction of fossil fuels, the consistent use of paper bags requires the consistent slaying of trees — one of the most important warriors in removing harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Even when recycled or composted, paper bags are still a single-use product

Analyzing the data on which type of single-use bag is more harmful to produce or destroy is pointless in environmental terms when the easiest solution is right in front of us — reusable bags. Even the most sustainably produced paper is still paper — it’s not going to last a lifetime or even a season, meaning it will have to be replaced. From a sustainability standpoint, the “lesser of two evils” approach to using paper bags isn’t valid — any single-use product is part of the problem.

Reusable grocery and tote bags are available and affordable. There’s no excuse not to keep a few on hand and to actually use them when you go to the store. When shopping for reusable bags, look for organic cotton or bags made from recycled materials, such as recycled plastic or paper. If available, buy bags made from jute, a plant fiber that is actually more sustainable to harvest and process than organic cotton.

At Matador Network, we’re all for civic discourse and rigorous public debate. But the “paper or plastic” conversation is one we firmly support opting out of entirely. It’s easy to do — keep a couple of reusable bags in your vehicle, backpack, bicycle pannier, or whatever carrying case you bring with you when leaving your home. You’ll never have to answer the question again.

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Hawiian Airlines drive-thru COVID

Hawiian Airlines is now making it easy for its passengers to get COVID-19 tests before their flights — first near Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) international airports, and then other airports across the country.

The program will involve drive-through testing sites being set up outside LAX and SFO. Passengers will have the option of getting a PCR test within 36 hours of their flight ($90) or on the same day ($150).

“As Hawai’i’s leading airline, it is critical to ensure that access to testing does not impede travel to Hawai‘i, for visitors or our kama‘āina (residents),” said Avi Mannis, senior vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines, in a press release. “Our testing option will offer Los Angeles and Bay Area travelers superior value and we look forward to expanding the program and bringing additional choices to more of our gateway cities as we welcome guests back with our industry-leading Hawaiian hospitality, while keeping our community safe. We’re grateful to the state of Hawai‘i for its partnership in developing the pre-travel testing program.”

The new protocols are being introduced due to Hawaii’s plan to lift the mandatory quarantine on October 15 for visitors who present a negative COVID-19 test result (taken within 72 hours of arrival). Travelers will also be asked to complete a health form before making their way to Hawaii.

Hawaii is following the example of United Airlines, which announced earlier this month that it would offer COVID-19 tests to travelers heading to Hawaii through SFO.

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US travel to Mexico during COVID-19

Traveling in the era of COVID-19 can feel more like navigating a complex puzzle designed to make you feel stupid. Each country has different rules and regulations governing international travel and tourism, to say nothing of the myriad safety protocols you must keep in mind upon arrival. For US travelers going abroad, it’s especially difficult due to our country’s poor handling of COVID-19 outbreaks. One of the few silver linings, however, is that unlike many countries around the world, Mexico is willing to receive us. But just because we’re allowed to travel there doesn’t exactly mean it’s straightforward, or that we should expect a totally normal experience once we get there, or that there aren’t ethical concerns to consider. Here’s what you should know about safely traveling to Mexico right now.

Getting there

Technically, the US has banned all nonessential cross-border travel between the US and Mexico, and this restriction will remain in place until at least mid-October. Although this might seem fairly prohibitive when it comes to your Mexico vacation prospects, there’s actually a loophole that allows US citizens to travel freely and legally to Mexico. While the US closed its borders to Mexico, Mexico never technically closed its borders to US citizens, and US citizens returning from an international trip are still allowed to reenter the country.

Although driving across the border is prohibited, along with ferry and commuter rail travel, reaching Mexico by air is allowed. Flights are operating regularly to popular tourist destinations like Quintana Roo — though on a more limited schedule — and arriving travelers should prepare to face health screenings, temperature checks, and thermographic cameras. Unlike most countries, a negative COVID test taken prior to arrival is not required.

If, through the airport health screenings, you’re found to have COVID-19 symptoms or a fever, you may be asked to return home or quarantine in Mexico. If you don’t show any COVID-19 symptoms, you will not be required to quarantine for any period of time.

Before actually booking a trip south of the border, however, keep in mind that each Mexican state has a different approach to reopening. They use a “stoplight” system to phase in normal, nonessential activities. “Red” means total lockdown, with only essential activities allowed. “Orange” means hotels, restaurants, barber shops, parks, gyms, and places like supermarkets may open with limited capacity. “Yellow” means all work activities are permitted, though enclosed public spaces must still operate with reduced capacity. “Green” means all economic and social activities may resume as normal.

At the time of publishing, no states are designated red, 15 are orange, 16 are yellow, and one is green. The lone green state is Campeche.

The orange states include:

Baja California Sur
Colima
Guerrero
Hidalgo
Jalisco
Michoacán
México state
Mexico City
Nayarit
Nuevo León
Quintana Roo
San Luis Potosí
Yucatán
Veracruz
Zacatecas

The yellow states include:

Aguascalientes
Baja California
Coahuila
Chiapas
Chihuahua
Durango
Guanajuato
Morelos
Oaxaca
Puebla
Querétaro
Sonora
Sinaloa
Tamaulipas
Tlaxcala
Tabasco

The list is updated regularly and reflected in the US Embassy’s official travel advice for Mexico.

What’s open?

Eager to salvage the summer and fall tourism season, most hotels across Mexico are open and receiving visitors with new safety protocols in place. The availability of rooms, however, will depend on the state’s stoplight color and what capacity limits are allowed.

In red states, hotels are limited in 25 percent occupancy and only for guests working on critical activities. In orange states, hotels are limited to 50 percent capacity while yellow and green states are allowed to operate hotels at full capacity.

As for restaurants, pools, beaches, malls, spas, archeological sites, and more, their status depends on the state’s color within the stoplight system. Most major tourist destinations — including Puerto Vallarta, Playa Del Carmen, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, and Mexico City — are open for tourism with limited capacity.

As always, make sure to check the updated rules and regulations for your destination before departing. Since COVID-19 guidelines often change daily, staying current on your hotel’s policies and the “color” of your state could save you a massive headache.

Should you travel to Mexico right now?

Travel in general right now is an ethical minefield. On one hand, any travel whatsoever, even domestically, contains some level of risk for contracting or spreading COVID-19. On the other, tourism-dependent economies around the world have been devastated, and certain regions in Mexico have faced massive losses in 2020. Anecdotally, many travelers have reported they received a warm welcome at hotels and restaurants and were able to enjoy beaches and other natural sites without crowds. However, other areas stuck in the orange zone might not take as kindly to tourists compared to those with a yellow designation. It’s definitely not the time to go exploring a remote village with limited medical resources. But if you get a COVID-19 test beforehand, stick to wide-open spaces, patronize hotels and restaurants that are following COVID-19 protocols, and always mask up yourself, Mexico is one of your best bets for a safe, positive international travel experience for the rest of 2020.

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An Icelandic surf photographer confronts single parenthood in stunning film

The name Unnur comes from the time of the Vikings. She was one of nine daughters of Ægir, the god of the sea. Icelandic photographer and surfer Elli Thor has one daughter, taking this one name. The new documentary film Unnur from Director Chris Burkard and writer Matt McDonald tells Thor’s story of living in a remote coastal cabin in Iceland, seeking to pass his passion for the outdoors onto his daughter while reaffirming his own belief in a natural way of living.

“For me the story of Elli Thor raising his daughter as a single parent is something near and dear to me,” said Director Chris Burkard in a statement. “Growing up in a single-parent home I watched my own mom balance the risks of raising me in a way that would allow me to carve my own path while not passing on an inherent fear of the unknown. This film is for everyone who hopes to raise kids and share with them the places and experiences they cherish most. It is a tribute to the complicated world of parenthood.”

Unnur is a thought-provoking story loaded with symbolic takeaways for the viewer to apply to his or her own life. These are five of the most important.

1. Life is about more than “the grind.”

While on a kayaking trip in the north of Iceland 10 years prior, Thor found himself stuck in a cave after running a waterfall in rough conditions. He passed out and nearly didn’t make it back to shore. Though he survived, the experience scarred him. For Thor, walking away from kayaking stripped a major source of passion and inspiration from his life. He contemplated moving to the city and pursuing a “normal” life. But it wasn’t the “straight and narrow” that helped him find a new meaning in life.

Instead, Thor found meaning through surfing and photography — not merely the actions themselves but the way these activities helped him to connect with the world around him. A passion for living was born of stepping outside of the grind and connecting with the natural surroundings within his homeland. Through the privilege of being a father, he found purpose through passing that passion along to Unnur.

2. Finding happiness in life doesn’t just happen.

“I think a lot of Icelanders want the same thing as so many other people want,” Thor says in the film. “They want the big house, the two-car garage, and the flat-screen TV.”

That didn’t cut it for Thor, who discovered early on that he was happiest when he stepped away from those things. “I’ve always prioritized living close to nature. I think it’s where I feel the happiest and the most content.”

Thor notes how often he’s questioned his decision to live in a remote, oceanside cabin rather than purchase a home in Reykjavik. He wrestles with this as a form of escapism. But his feelings are confirmed each time he visits the city.

3. Parents are going to be parents — and that means worrying.

Photo: Courtesy of Chris Burkard

“We spend our days together playing in the ocean, but I also worry about her missing out on all the normal kid things,” Thor says of his young daughter.

Thor also worries about the life he is creating for Unnur and the legacy that he is going to leave her with. Will she appreciate living close to nature as she grows older? And will she think back fondly of the time the two spent together?

“As a parent, you can only dream that your kid carries on what you love most,” Thor says.

The uniqueness of his lifestyle and profession prove to be defining characteristics of Thor’s aptitude as a father. “To [my parents], having kids never stopped them from doing what they loved,” Thor says. “After I left home, my parents supported my adventures in a way that I’m amazed by sometimes. They gave me incredible trust, and I’m sure they worried.”

4. This trust — and the accompanying worry — came full circle with Unnur.

One common theme running through Unnur is whether or not Thor actually believes in what he is doing and how he is raising his daughter. His wonders if he is being selfish and prioritizing his own passions and hobbies over what will provide the best future for Unnur.

“I knew when Unnur was born that a lot of things would change,” Thor says. “And that there would be more pressure to live a ‘normal life.’”

Beyond his time with Unnur, Thor grapples with the perceived value of earning a living as a surf photographer. He admits having faced the judgment of friends and family who think his profession is a waste of time. This thought also seems to tug at Thor, particularly given that there are so few surfers in Iceland.

Burkard’s narrative walks the viewer through Thor’s uncertainties in life and parenting. What we see is one man’s inner struggle as it manifests throughout his life. The viewer, particularly if he or she is a parent, undoubtedly comes away relating that feeling to their own life. This is the film’s ultimate message — that life is about discovering who you are and who you want to be, and that teaching honesty and passion to your children is its greatest achievement.

5. When it comes to being a parent, name is not the same as deed.

To be a father, Thor learned, one must be patient and present with their kin. In their case, surfing and Iceland’s stunning landscape helped Thor bridge that gap with his daughter. But it was ultimately his own realization of the role he needed to play, and of how to use his own personal growth to fill those shoes, that transformed Thor into the man he became in the film. Becoming a father is the easy part. Actually being a father is the most profound responsibility a man could have.

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